Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chinese contemporary art and artists
As China has opened up, artists have rapidly discovered and imitated Western forms,
from surrealism to Dada to Pop, but the best have absorbed international trends and
made from them something that is distinctly Chinese. It's not easy in this foment of
activity to pick out names, but artists to look out for include Qing Qing, who makes wall
pieces of Chinese dresses embedded with dried flowers, razor blades and the like.
Documentary realism is a strong strain in Chinese art, with artists given leeway to
bring up, albeit obliquely, issues that are banned from discussion in the press;
pollution, corruption and the destruction of the urban environment are common
themes. Artists who exemplify this include Yang Fudong, notable for his wistful
images of city life and migrant workers, and Cui Xiuwen, whose work includes film
of women in a toilet at a karaoke bar.
Just as strong is a contrasting tendancy towards outrageous sensationalism, though
again it's all about pushing the limits. Wu Gaozhong drew attention for a performance
piece in which he climbed into the belly of a slaughtered cow, but his recent work,
involving giant props implanted with boar hair, is rather more subtle, with a creepy
beauty. And it's always worth looking out for a show curated by enfant terrible Gu
Zhenqing, who has a reputation for gleefully courting controversy.
In addition to Moganshan and the art museums mentioned on p.133, the
galleries below are well worth checking out.
ArtSPACE Warehouse
艺术空间仓库yì
shù kōng jiān cāng kù
78 Changping Lu, near Xi Suzhou Lu
Lu
www.ddmwarehouse.org.
Daily except Mon 11am-7pm. See Central
Shanghai colour map.
A rough-and-ready
space showing trendy, conceptual work.
Deke Erh Centre
东强艺术中心
dōng qiáng yì shù zhōng xīn
Building 2, 210 Taikang Lu Art Street
T
T
35013213,
W
T
52286776,
W
www.1918artspace.com. Daily except Mon
10.30am-6.30pm. See map, pp.80-81.
Small
and chic gallery in the north of the city
showing contemporary Chinese art.
Art Scene China
艺术景画廊
yì shù j
www.han-yuan.com. Daily
10am-6pm. See map, pp.70-71.
Modernish
objets d'art and some interesting photo
64150675,
W
8, Lane 37 Fuxing Xi Lu
j ng huà láng
-
T
64370631,
W
www
graphs, all fairly affordable.
Shanghai Gallery of Art
外滩三号沪申画廊
wài tān sān hào hù shēn huà láng
3rd Floor, Three on the Bund, Zhongshan Dong Yi
Lu
.artscenechina.com. Daily except Mon
10.30am-7.30pm. See map, pp.70-71.
Classy
and well-executed works from a highly
reputed stable of artists are on show at this
lovely restored courtyard house in the Old
French Concession (see also p.77).
Creek Art Centre
上海体育场
shàng h
i t
www.threeonthebund.com.
Daily 11am-11pm. See map, p.51.
An impressive
space in a beautiful and upscale building, just
above the Armani flagship, that is yet to
realize its full potential - so far, it's hosted only
timid shows of established big hitters.
Shanghai Sculpture Space
上海城市雕塑艺术中心
shàng h
i chéng shì diāo sù yì shù zhōng xīn
570 Huaihai Xi Lu
T
63215757,
W
t yù ch
ng
423 Guangfu Lu, near Datong Lu
T
63804150,
W
www.creekart.cn. Wed-Sun noon-8pm. See
map, pp.80-81.
This seven-storey art centre
overlooking Suzhou Creek was originally a
flour factory. Today, it's an enormous
exhibition space for contemporary art, with
intelligently themed exhibitions.
DDM Warehouse
东大名创库
dōng dà míng chuàng kù
3rd Floor, 713 Daming Dong Lu, near Gaoyang
www
.sss570.com. Daily except Mon 10am-4pm.
See map, p.98.
This charming sculpture
gallery, more than two thousand square
metres in size, occupies an old steel
factory. There's a permanent display of
quirky and uneven work.
T
62807844,
W
134
